The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction mostly relies on the experience of surgeons. To improve the effectiveness and adaptability of the tension after ACL reconstruction in knee joint rehabilitation, this paper establishes a lateral force measurement model with relaxation characteristics and designs an on-line stiffness measurement system of ACL. In this paper, we selected 20 sheep knee joints as experimental material for the knee joint stability test before the ACL reconstruction operation, which were divided into two groups for a comparative test of single-bundle ACL reconstruction through the anterolateral approach. The first group of surgeons carried out intraoperative detection with routine procedures. The second group used ACL on-line stiffness measurement system for intraoperative detection. After that, the above two groups were tested for postoperative stability. The study results show that the tension accuracy is (? 2.3 ± 0.04)%, and the displacement error is (1.5 ± 1.8)%. The forward stability, internal rotation stability, and external rotation stability of the two groups were better than those before operation (P < 0.05). But the data of the group using the system were closer to the preoperative knee joint measurement index, and there was no significant difference between them (P > 0.05). The system established in this paper is expected to help clinicians judge the ACL reconstruction tension in the operation process and effectively improve the surgical effect.
Objective The anterior cruciate l igament (ACL) is the important stable structure of the knee. To evaluate the method and outcome of bone-ACL-bone (B-ACL-B) allograft under arthroscope in reconstruction of ACL. Methods Between October 2007 and February 2010, arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with deep-freezing B-ACL-B allograft was performed on 22 patients with ACL ruptures. There were 15 males and 7 females with an average age of 27.6 years (range, 19-55 years). The causes of ACL rupture were sport trauma in 12 cases, fall ing injury in 1 case, heavy crush in 2 cases, and traffic accident in 7 cases. The locations were the left knee in 14 cases and the right knee in 8 cases. The disease durationwas 7 days to 12 months (median, 65 days). Nineteen patients showed the positive results of anterior drawer test and pivot shift test, and 21 patients showed the positive results of Lachman test. According to International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) criteria, there were 5 abnormal and 17 severely abnormal. The subjective IKDC score was 49.6 ± 6.9. The Lysholm score was 48.5 ± 5.3. The Tegner scale scores were 6.8 ± 1.2 before injury and 2.1 ± 0.5 before operation. The MRI showed the ACL injuries in 18 of 20 patients. Results The mean operative time was 75 minutes (range, 65-85 minutes); the mean blood loss was 110 mL (range, 80-150 mL). All incisions healed by first intention. No immunologic rejection and deep vein thrombosis of lower l imbs occurred. All patients were followed up 7-34 months (mean, 18 months). At last follow-up, the flexion of the knee ranged from 125 to 135° (mean, 130.5°). Two patients showed the positive results of anterior drawer test, 1 patient showed the positive result of pivot shift test, and 3 patients showed the positive results of Lachman test. According to the IKDC criteria, 10 patients rated as normal, 11 patients as nearly normal, 1 patient as abnormal. The subjective IKDC score was 90.0 ± 5.8, showing significant difference when compared with preoperative one (t=4.653, P=0.021). The Lysholm score was 91.6 ± 7.1, showing significant difference when compared with preoperative one (t=4.231, P=0.028). The Tegner scale score was 6.1 ± 1.5, showing no significant difference when compared with one before injury (t=1.321, P=0.070) and showing significant difference when compared preoperative one (t=3.815, P=0.033). The arthroscopic examination showed no rupture of grafts in 19 patients, 17 grafts showed normal tension, and 2 showed sl ight relaxation at 6 months after operation. Conclusion Reconstruction of the ACL with B-ACL-B allograft under arthroscope is a safe and effective method, which can anatomically reconstruct ACL and obtain a good recovery of the knee function after operation.
Objective To compare the biological characteristics of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and anterior cruciate ligament derived mesenchymal stem cells (ACL-MSCs) from ratsin vitro. Methods Ten male SPF-level BN rats, weighing 200-220 g, were selected to obtain anterior cruciate ligaments and bone marrows, and ACL-MSCs and BMSCs were isolated for passage culture respectively under sterile condition. The cell morphology was observed, and the cells at passage 3 were used to detect the surface markers of CD34, CD45, CD90, and CD29 by flow cytometry, the ability of cell proliferation by cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8), and colony formation ability by clone forming test. The mRNA levels of differentiation related genes [alkaline phosphatas (ALP), bone gamma-carboxyglutamate protein, runt related transcription factor 2, bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), secreted phosphoprotein 1 (Spp1), collagen type II α1 (Col2α1), Aggrecan (Acan), Sox9, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ2 (PPARγ2), and CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein-α] were also determined by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. Results BMSCs and ACL-MSCs had similar morphology, adherent cells displaying long fusiform. The immunoprofile of ACL-MSCs and BMSCs at passage 3 was positive for CD29 and CD90 and was negative for CD45 and CD34. The absorbance (A) value of ACL-MSCs (1.11±0.08) was significantly higher than that of BMSCs (0.78±0.05) (t=3.599,P=0.023); the number of colonies of ACL-MSCs [(53.00±5.51)/hole] was significantly more than that of BMSCs [(30.67±4.84)/hole] (t=3.045,P=0.038). The results of toluidine blue staining, alizarin red staining, and oil red O staining were positive in BMSCs and ACL-MSCs at 21 days after osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic induction. The mRNA expressions of BMP-2, Spp1, Col2α1, Acan, Sox9, and PPARγ2 in ACL-MSCs were significantly higher than those in BMSCs (P<0.01). Conclusion The proliferation potential of ACL-MSCs is greater than that of BMSCs, and the former is apt to differentiate into chondrocytes. ACL-MSCs are promising cells to promote tendon-bone healing.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with the autologous ipsilateral peroneus longus tendon (PLT) under arthroscopy.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted on 35 patients with ACL rupture who underwent ACL reconstruction with autologous ipsilateral PLT under arthroscopy between October 2017 and October 2018. There were 19 males and 16 females with an average age of 43.4 years (range, 18-60 years), with 20 cases of left knee and 15 cases of right knee. The causes of injury included traffic accident in 14 cases, falling injury in 13 cases, and sports injury in 8 cases. The time from injury to operation ranged from 3 to 9 days (mean, 4.7 days). The patients suffered from swelling, pain, and limited mobility of knee joint before operation. The anterior drawer test, Lachman test, and pivot-shift test were positive before operation, whereas MRI was taken to confirm the ACL rupture. After operation, the patients were followed up every 3 months until the knee joint’s function returned to normal. MRI and X-ray films were used to observe the tendon-bone healing as well as the position of Endobutton suspension plate and hollow nail. The anterior drawer test, Lachman test, and pivot-shift test were conducted to observe the improvement of knee joint mobility. The functional improvements were evaluated by the International Knee Documents Committee (IKDC) score, Lysholm score, knee injury and osteoarthritis (KOOS) score.ResultsAll the 35 patients were followed up 12-18 months, with an average of 14.2 months. The incisions healed by first intention, and no complications such as infection, joint stiffness, and rerupture occurred. Postoperative anterior drawer test, Lachman test, and pivot-shift test turned to be negative of all patients. MRI showed that the ACL was continuous, and the tendon-bone in the distal femur tunnel and proximal tibia tunnel recovered well after operation. X-ray films showed that the positions of Endobutton suspension plate and hollow nail were stable. The IKDC, Lysholm, and KOOS scores at 3, 6, and 12 months after operation were significantly improved when compared with those before operation, and the scores were further improved with time after operation (P<0.05).ConclusionFor patients with ACL rupture, ACL reconstruction with the autologous ipsilateral PLT under arthroscopy has satisfactory effectiveness of quick recovery, good function, and great stability.
Objective To investigate the feasibility of establishing an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction model using hamstring tendon autograft in cynomolgus monkeys. Methods Twelve healthy adult male cynomolgus monkeys, weighing 8-13 kg, were randomly divided into two groups (n=6). In the experimental group, the ACL reconstruction model of the right lower limb was prepared by using a single bundle of hamstring tendon, and the ACL of the right lower limb was only cut off in the control group. The survival of animals in the two groups was observed after operation. Before operation and at 3, 6, and 12 months after operation, the knee range of motion, thigh circumference, and calf circumference of the two groups were measured; the anterior tibial translation D-value (ATTD) was measured by Ligs joint ligament digital body examination instrument under the loads of 13-20 N, respectively. At the same time, the experimental group underwent MRI examination to observe the graft morphology and the signal/ noise quotient (SNQ) was caculated. Results All animals survived to the end of the experiment. In the experimental group, the knee range of motion, thigh circumference, and calf circumference decreased first and then gradually increased after operation; the above indexes were significantly lower at 3 and 6 months after operation than before operation (P<0.05), and no significant difference was found between pre-operation and 12 months after operation (P>0.05). In the control group, there was no significant change in knee range of motion after operation, showing no significant difference between pre- and post-operation (P>0.05), but the thigh circumference and calf circumference gradually significantly decreased with time (P<0.05), and the difference was significant when compared with those before operation (P<0.05). At 6 and 12 months after operation, the thigh circumference and calf circumference were significantly larger in the experimental group than in the control group (P<0.05). At 3 and 6 months after operation, the knee range of motion was significantly smaller in the experimental group than in the control group (P<0.05). Under the loading condition of 13-20 N, the ATTD in the experimental group increased first and then decreased after operation; and the ATTD significantly increased at 3, 6 months after operation when compared with the value before operation (P<0.05). But there was no significant difference between the pre-operation and 12 months after operation (P>0.05). There was no significant change in ATTD in the control group at 3, 6, and 12 months after operation (P>0.05), and which were significantly higher than those before operation (P<0.05). At each time point after operation, the ATTD was significantly smaller in the experimental group than in the control group under the same load (P<0.05). The MRI examination of the experimental group showed that the ACL boundary gradually became clear after reconstruction and was covered by the synovial membrane. The SNQ at each time point after operation was significantly higher than that before operation, but gradually decreased with time, and the differences between time points were significant (P<0.05). Conclusion The ACL reconstruction model in cynomolgus monkey with autogenous hamstring tendon transplantation was successfully established.
Objective
To explore the feasibility of pre-implantation of high-intensity suture into tendon grafts to prevent postoperative graft relaxation and creep in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.
Methods
Thirty-six specimens of ACL reconstruction graft were made using adult swine’s Achilles tendon. All the specimens were randomly divided into experimental group (groups A and C) and control group (groups B and D), 9 specimens each group. One double-strand Ultrabraid No.2 high-intensity suture was pre-implanted into the grafts of groups A and C. Groups A and B underwent a 1 000-cycles load test while groups C and D underwent a 3 000-cycles load test. Then a pull-out test was performed until failure. The displacements at different cycles (100, 500, 1 000, 2 000, and 3 000) in all groups and yield loads of groups C and D were measured and analyzed.
Results
The displacement of group A was significantly smaller than that of group B at the cycles of 100, 500, and 1 000 (P<0.05); the displacement of group C was significantly smaller than that of group D at every cycle (P<0.05). Additionally, the yield load of group C was significantly higher than that of group D (t=4.816,P=0.001).
Conclusion
Pre-implantation of high-intensity suture into tendon grafts play an important role in the prevention of postoperative graft creep and relaxation in ACL reconstruction.
Objective To investigate the relationship between the vertical distance from semitendinosus insertion to tibial plateau (S-T) and the physical characteristics of patients, in order to provide reference for incision design to expose the semitendinosus insertion. Methods The patients with ligament injury who underwent primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction between January 2022 and December 2022 were selected as the research subjects. The patients’ baseline data were collected, including age, gender, height, and body mass. During reconstruction operation, the S-T was measured. Considering the S-T as the dependent variable and baseline data as the independent variable, multiple linear regression analysis was used to establish a regression equation to determine the possible influencing factors of semitendinosus insertion location. Results According to the selection standard, a total of 214 patients were enrolled, including 156 males and 58 females, aged (27±9) years (14-49 years), with a height of (174.7±6.8) cm (range, 160-196 cm) and a body mass of (73.43±12.35) kg (range, 53-105 kg). The S-T was (56.36±3.61) mm (range, 47-67 mm). The multiple linear regression analysis results showed that the height was positively correlated with S-T (β=0.407, SE=0.055, t=7.543, P<0.001); the regression equation was S-T=?14.701+0.407×height, R2=0.690. ConclusionThere was a linear relationship between the height and semitendinosus insertion. The location of semitendinosus insertion estimated by the formula (S-T=?14.701+0.407×height) is reasonable, which provides a theoretical basis for rapid, accurate, and safe location of semitendinosus insertion and design of surgical incision in clinic.
ObjectiveTo summarize the relationship between lateral femoral notch sign (LFNS) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture. MethodsThe relevant literature of LFNS at home and abroad in recent years was retrospectively reviewed, and its mechanism, diagnostic criteria and influencing factors in diagnosis of ACL rupture were summarized and analyzed.ResultsThe LFNS is associated with rotational stability of the knee. As an indirect sign of ACL rupture, the LFNS has high clinical diagnostic value, especially the diagnosis of ACL rupture with lateral meniscus injury.ConclusionThe diagnostic criteria and influencing factors of LFNS in diagnosis of ACL rupture are still unclear and controversial, which needs further study.
ObjectiveTo investigate the risk factors of contralateral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury after primary ACL reconstruction. Methods A retrospective review was conducted on the 716 patients with ACL injury who received primary ACL reconstruction surgery and met the selection criteria between January 2012 and September 2018. After a mean follow-up period of 7.6 years (range, 4-10 years), 65 patients (9.1%) experienced contralateral ACL injury (injured group) and 651 patients (90.9%) did not (uninjured group). There was no significant difference in age, body mass index, and preoperative Lachman test degree between groups (P>0.05). However, the proportion of female in the injured group was significantly higher than that of male (P<0.05), and the preoperative posterior tibial slope (PTS) was significantly higher than that of the uninjured group (P<0.05). Using the outcome of contralateral ACL injury as the dependent variable, the clinical data of the patient was first used as the independent variable, and univariate COX regression was used to analyze the prognostic influencing factors. Then, the indicators with differences in univariate COX regression were used as the independent variable, and multivariate COX regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors affecting prognosis. Log-Rank (Mantel-Cox) test was used to test and analyze the occurrence time of contralateral ACL injury in patients of different genders; X-tile software was used to analyze the occurrence time of contralateral ACL injury in patients with different PTS using Log-Rank (Mantel-Cox) test and PTS cut-off values. ResultsUnivariate COX regression analysis showed that gender and PTS were influence factors for contralateral ACL injury (P<0.05); further multivariate COX regression analysis showed that female and increased PTS were independent risk factors for contralateral ACL injury (P<0.05). The Log-Rank (Mantel-Cox) test results showed that the contralateral ACL injury occurred in female at 8.853 (8.600, 9.106) years, which was significantly shorter than that in male [9.661 (9.503, 9.819) years] (χ2=20.323, P<0.001). Using X-tile software to analyze the cut-off value of PTS, it was found that the cut-off value of PTS for contralateral ACL injury was 10.92°. According to the Log-Rank (Mantel-Cox) test, it was found that the contralateral ACL injury occurred in 5.762 (4.981, 6.543) years in patients with PTS≥10.92°, which was significantly shorter than patients with PTS<10.92° [9.751 (9.650, 9.853) years](χ2=302.479, P<0.001). ConclusionFemale and PTS≥10.92° after primary ACL reconstruction are independent risk factors for contralateral ACL injury.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of one-stage posterior medial corner (PMC) repair or reconstruction combined with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction in treating KD-ⅢM dislocation. Methods The clinical data of 15 patients with knee KD-ⅢM dislocation who met the selection criteria between January 2016 and July 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 9 males and 6 females, aged 22-61 years (mean, 40.3 years). Injuries were caused by violence of flexion, valgus, and external rotation, including 10 cases of traffic accident injuries, 3 cases of crush injuries, 1 case of winch injury, and 1 case of explosion injury. The time from injury to operation ranged from 3 days to 6 months, with an average of 18.5 days. PMC repair combined with PCL+ACL reconstruction was performed in 10 cases in acute stage (within 3 weeks after injury), including 3 cases of irreducible dislocation. PMC+PCL+ACL reconstruction was performed in 5 cases with chronic dislocation. Before operation and at last follow-up, the knee joint function was evaluated by Lysholm score and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) 2000 score. KT-3000 was used to evaluate the forward stability of the knee (calculated the difference of tibial anterior displacement of both knees), the X-ray films of the stress position of the knee joint was used to evaluate the valgus of the knee (calculated the difference of medial joint space width of both knees) and the backward stability (calculated the difference of tibial posterior displacement of both knees), and the internal and external rotation stability was evaluated by knee flexion 30° tibial external rotation and knee flexion 90° tibial internal rotation tests (calculated the difference of tibial internal rotation and the difference of tibial external rotation of both knees). Results The operation time was 120-240 minutes, with an average of 186.5 minutes. Patients were followed up 24-48 months, with an average of 27.4 months. There was no complication such as infection, deep vein thrombosis, vascular injury, or heterotopic ossification. At last follow-up, the Lysholm score, IKDC2000 score, the difference of tibial anterior displacement of both knees, the difference of medial joint space width of both knees, the difference of tibial posterior displacement of both knees, the difference of tibial internal rotation and the difference of tibial external rotation of both knees significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05). According to the IKDC2000 valgus stability grading standard, there were 3 cases of grade C and 12 cases of grade D before operation, and 10 cases of grade A and 5 cases of grade B at last follow-up, which was significantly improved when compared with that before operation (Z=?4.930, P=0.000). At last follow-up, the pivot shift tests of 15 patients were negative. The anterior and posterior drawer tests of 10 patients were negative, 5 patients had mild instability, both the anterior and posterior drawer tests were positive. ConclusionKD-ⅢM dislocation of the knee joint can lead to the posterior medial and anterior instability. Acute dislocation combined with “dimple sign” requires surgical reduction as soon as possible to repair PMC and reconstruct PCL and ACL. In chronic patients, PMC is difficult to repair, it is recommended to reconstruct PMC, PCL, and ACL at one stage to improve knee joint stability. The early and middle effectiveness are satisfactory.
